NYC Trip 2/26 – 3/2

ThursdayAirportMy Mom and I meet at JKF airport. She flew in from Houston and I flew in from Richmond. I flew Delta… which I do not recommend since the terminal is old and ugly (Fly Jet Blue their terminal is nice and shinny).The MetWhen then took a cab to Chris and Marlon’s Apartment near the Metropolitan Museum of Art.Since Chris and Marlon where at work we decided to walk the few blocks to the Met.

From NYC Trip 2009

Where they filmed When Harry Met Sally!

Dinner at RayuelaOnce Chris and Marlon were home we headed out to dinner at Rayuela. I loved the way it was decorated. Click here to see pictures of the interior http://www.rayuelanyc.com/gallery.htm The food was amazing. And the company was, of course, the best.

FridayGuggenheimWhile Chris and Marlon headed to work, Mom and I went the Guggenheim.

From NYC Trip 2009

The main exhibition was The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia, 1860–1989. Go here http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/exhibitions/past/exhibit/2716 to you can watch a video about the exhibition.You can view the online exhibition here: http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/exhibitions/past/exhibit/2716My favorite piece was by TehchingHsieh. One Year Performance 1980-1981. He took photos of himself every day and every hour for a year. All of the photos filled a room and then they were put together as a movie.I also loved Ann Hamilton’s piece, human carriage. I might be a bit bias since I was able to meet her when I went to Ohio State for a visit (as well as help a friend clean out her studio garden!)

New MuseumChris meet up with for lunch and then we headed over to the New Museum. The main exhibition was Conversations About Iraq.View of Strip Art work from New Museum.

From NYC Trip 2009

Street Art Outside of the New Museum:

From NYC Trip 2009

From NYC Trip 2009

SohoWe then head to Soho to grab a drink at the Mercer Kitchen. Marlon met us there and then we headed to look around Soho before dinner. We went to the Prada store– which is amazing. The way they have designed the stage is amazing… pictures are here http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/prada/index.htm. Then we went to the MoMA store where Marlon introduced me to Muji! I have to say my favorite thing ever. http://www.muji.com/ Dinner was at a yummy French Restaurant (can you say yummy before French Restaurant?) Balthazar.

From NYC Trip 2009

Saturday

Kitchen 5EMarlon made us amazing French Toast using the Bread from Balthazar’s. He used Cream Cheese as well! Highly recommend Kitchen 5E!

Back to SohoWe headed back to Soho to see more art and shopping. First we went to the Muji Store!Then we went to see two installations by Walter De Maria: The Earth Room and The Broken Kilometer.

DinnerWe ate dinner at a Little Havana in Greenwich Village. The food was amazing and I highly recommend this place. We all our fair share of Sangria as well!

The New York BalletAfter dinner we headed on the subway to the NYC Ballet.

From NYC Trip 2009

Sunday

Brunch at The BoathouseAfter a relaxing morning we headed to Central Park for Brunch at The Boathouse. Another place where they filmed When Harry Met Sally!

Whitney MuseumMy favorite art (outside of the street art) was at the Whitney. The exhibition was entitled Sites. The installation Electric Earth, Doug Aitken, 1999 was one of the best pieces of art I have seen in a long time. It was an amazing Modern Landscape that reminded me of the work of John Cage.

AirportHere is where the story should end. We head to the Airport. All is well. We are both checked in… and then they cancel my flight because of weather. They reschedule me for the Monday evening flight. So back to Chris and Marlon’s I go.

Monday

I decide that my flight will once again be canceled due to weather so I buy a train ticket– there is no way a train will be canceled.

Cab RideSo I grab a cab in the snow with my bags. I thought snow would be beautiful in NYC but it is a black mess that makes getting around with a suite case nearly impossible.

From NYC Trip 2009

Pen StationI arrive at Penn Station an hour or so before my Train. My train is running late. And then a few minutes before my train is to arrive they announce that it will not be going to Richmond. Yup, it will not be going to Richmond.

Heading to JFKSo since my train is not going to Richmond I figure I will head to the airport and take the rescheduled flight. I could spend $50. to get to JKF in a cab or figure out how to take the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) to the airport. I figured it out but I promise you I thought I was in another country. You wait as a group the name flashes and people run to a door to get on the train.I am about 5 minutes from the airport when my Mom calls to let me know that MY FLIGHT WAS CANCELED!! Yes, that is correct.But I see that Jet Blue has a Richmond flight that is delayed. I go to the Jet Blue counter and see if I can get a a ticket. YES! I can. I buy it. But there was one silver lining– there is a Muji store in the Jet Blue Terminal!!! So I bought more Muji products!Then the flight gets delayed again and again and again…. All the while I am reading a book I bought while at Penn Station. The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World. So I figure I can only let myself get so worked up over the 28+ hour process of trying to get home. I mean I am reading a book on Bliss!And then it happens… my plane shows up!! Yes, it shows up! I get on the plane and head home.

Thanks Chris and Marlon you were wonderful hosts. My Mom and I had a great time.